At 2:45 on Sunday, October 6th, the puck dropped in Pelham. This is the first and last time the Vipers will face the Pelham Panthers this season. The Vipers have won five of their last seven games and were looking to extend that to six wins on the season. With an overtime goal from Julian Gignac the Vipers were able to secure that sixth win.
Jake Windbel started his second game for the Vipers. At 6:32, Kieran McNally was called for cross-checking and at 12:52, Pelham was called for their first penalty of the game. Neither team found success in those man advantages but at 15:35, Jak Thiessen scored his 5th of the season, unassisted. Shots on net by the end of the first 20 minutes were 14-6 Lasalle.
The Panthers opened the second by scoring only 2:46 in. Max Brocklehurst was awarded a penalty shot at 4:16 but just missed resulting in no goal. This is Brocklehurst’s first GOJHL appearance after he spent the preseason with the Vipers affiliate team, the Windsor Spitfires. He had 3 points in 5 preseason games before being sent to Lasalle this past Friday. The Panthers took at 2-1 lead not long after Kieran McNally was put in the box. The final goal of the period was scored at 14:17 by Stefan Djordjevic. Brendan Gouin sent Thiessen and Djordjevic on a 2 on 1 that resulted in Djordjevic’s first of the season. Heading into the final frame, the score was all tied up at 2.
Dante Bertolin started the third period. The Vipers successfully killed off a 5 on 3 after Brody Jones and Owen Findlay were both called off for tripping. The Panthers then took the lead again at 10:27 but not for long as Julian Gignac would score the tying goal on the powerplay at 13:27. Neither team found luck in the remaining minutes sending the 3-3 tied game into overtime. Final shots on net in regulation were 39-30 Lasalle.
It only took rookie forward Julian Gignac 24 seconds to net his 2nd goal of the game in the extra frame. Assists being credited to Max Brocklehurst and Bryce Belleau, both their first GOJHL points.
Our next home game is Wednesday October 9th at the Vollmer R.C vs the Strathroy Rockets